Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-16

GAMBLING AT MONTE CARLO.
How 1t is Done, as Described by G. c.
Welman in the July Cosmopolitan.


Before play commences, which it does at
IL or II o'clock, according to the season,
solemn professions may be seen on their
way to the Salon. First come two attend
ants in livery, carrying between them a
| money chest, and close behind march the
croupiers who are TO begin work and of
| whom there are seven to each table. Four
of these sit facing each other on either side
of the roulette board in the center, and one
| at each end. The seventh, the chet-de-partie.
| as he is called, perches himself on a high
stool close behind one of the pairs of crou-
| piers at the center, keeps a lookout all
around, and is appealed TO in case of any
| dispute. g Je domino" are the words in
which he expresses his position.
| Each of the croupiers, the chef-de-partie
| excepted, is armed with long-handled
rake, which, as it has so much TO do, is
| strengthened at the foot by plate of brass.
| The bank-notes are placed in boxes, the
| money counted out, and the louis and five
| franc pieces arranged in long rows standing
on their edges, so that they look like gold
| and silver snakes. Each of the four crou-
piers at the center has snakes of both col
ors to look after. Those at the ends of the
tables have nothing to do with raking in or
paying out the money lost or won; their
business is to put stakes on. or rake win
nings of, for those who, unable to secure
seats at the table, are crowding around out
side; TO get change for them as required
| and to keep order.
And now it is time 10 begin the rakes of
the croupiers facing each other at the cen
ter are laid across the table head to head
their long, thin handles appearing beyond
the elbows OF the men about to WELD them
with SO much skill The croupiers at the
top and bottom lay their instruments close
IN front of them at right angles TO the
length of the table. which is long enough to
accommodate about twenty players beside
the croupiers, and eight shorter rakes I'M
shod with brass are placed ready for the
use of players. All is now prepared for the
attack, the garrison is perfectly drilled and
disciplined, and amply supplied with the
sinews of war. Table and men together
form one machine machine that plays
without committing a mistake, never made
| reckless by disaster, never rendered fool
ish by success.
Open the doors then, and let all who will
approach and do battle. Daily the chal-
lenge is accepted, the chairs are seized al
once, the forces are ready TO renew the as
sault. Many of the players produce pocket
books or sheets of paper ruled in every con-
ceivable way-these are the believers in
systems or martingales. Others are con-
tent to use the cards and pins supplied by
the attendants; others again neither know
| nor care what color or number last came
up, but play haphazard as the fancy takes
them. When those who mean to play
have put on their stakes, the croupier in
charge of the roulette board, who has sew
eral times uttered the warning, Messieurs,
taiteS Uos jeur," gives the bail spin in one
direction, the revolving disk twist in the
| other, and the battle begins in earnest